A BRADFORD district MP has said there should be a "zero-tolerance policy to assaults on shop workers" - after the Government announced attacks on retail staff would be made a standalone criminal offence. 

Earlier this year, the British Retail Consortium published a report saying violent and abusive incidents against shop workers had increased 50 per cent in the 12 months to September 2023.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his Government will be amending its Criminal Justice Bill to bring in the new offence, which will apply to England and Wales.

Under amendments to the bill currently making its way through Parliament, the new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail. 

Perpetrators could receive an unlimited fine and be banned from the shop where they committed the offence.

Serial offenders could also be forced to wear tags so their movements can be tracked.

Mr Sunak said: "I have been concerned by the rise in retail crime, as I'm sure many others are, which is why we've announced a strong set of measures to clamp down on retail crime.

"(It's) been warmly welcomed by retailers and police that I've spoken to and crucially will demonstrate to our shop workers that we've got their back and also that we will do what it takes to keep our streets and our community safe"

An existing provision under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act already sets out to protect shop workers by making it an aggravated offence to attack them.

But over the past six months, more than 47,000 people have signed a petition calling for the creation of a separate offence of assaulting a retail worker.

Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, said: "As someone who worked for ASDA for 12 years before entering Parliament, assaults on shop workers is a subject close to my heart and I have worked very closely with the Co-op and the Institute of Customer Service on this issue.

"Assaulting a shop worker or any other frontline worker is already an offence - brought in two years ago - and I was delighted to play a leading role in bringing that about.

"Clearly it is important for retailers to always report these assaults, for the police to fully investigate them and for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute them.

"There should be a zero tolerance policy to assaults on shop workers."